Alphabet owns Google and operates the YouTube video platform.
Alphabet was created in 2015 as a holding company and corporate reorganization of Google. Larry Page became its chief executive at launch, while Google co-founder Sergey Brin served as president. Sundar Pichai later became Alphabet's chief executive in 2019.
Google remains Alphabet's largest business and includes search, advertising, Android, Chrome, and Google Cloud. YouTube, acquired by Google in 2006, is also part of the Google business structure.
A common mix-up is treating Alphabet and Google as interchangeable names. Google is the principal operating company and consumer brand; Alphabet is the publicly traded parent corporation. Alphabet's Class A shares trade under GOOGL, while its Class C shares trade under GOOG.